I've been through this rodeo many times with dependent credits. Last year was a nightmare trying to figure out what all the codes meant. My transcript had like 15 different codes and dates that made zero sense. I stumbled across https://taxr.ai which actually explained my transcript in plain English. It showed me that my dependent verification was complete and predicted my refund date within 2 days of when it actually arrived. For international taxpayers like you, it might be especially helpful since it explains the US-specific terminology.

Oh my god I was SO WORRIED about this exact thing last year!!! I have 2 kids and got that 152 message and literally cried thinking something was wrong with my return. But it turned out to be totally normal! The IRS is just extra careful with returns that have dependents because some people try to claim kids they shouldn't. Just hang in there, I know it's stressful when you're counting on that money (I definitely was too) but it will come through! 💕

According to Internal Revenue Manual section 21.4.1.3, transcript updates typically follow a specific pattern based on your cycle code. If your cycle code ends in 01-04, you're on daily processing. If it ends in 05, you're on weekly processing. Per IRS Publication 2043 (IRS Refund Information Guidelines), the "Where's My Refund" tool can show various statuses including the disappearing bars, which indicates a shift from "Return Received" to "Return Processing" status. This is not necessarily cause for concern.

I was in the exact same situation on March 12th. My bars disappeared and the transcript site was down for three straight days. I finally got access on March 15th, and my transcript had updated with a direct deposit date for March 19th. The IRS is just absolutely swamped right now with the April 15th deadline approaching. If you filed in February like I did, you're probably just caught in the mid-season processing backlog.

If your DDD passes and you don't see the deposit, don't panic. Sometimes there are delays. I had to call the IRS when this happened to me (took FOREVER to get through). Found out later I could have used Claimyr.com to get past the hold times. My friend used it and got through to an IRS agent in like 15 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. Definitely worth it if you need to track down a missing deposit.

I've used Cash App for the last two tax seasons. They're actually faster than most banks with tax refunds. My DDD was the 18th last month, and I got it on the 16th. For SBPTG though, that's state-level and follows different timing. You should check your state's website for that payment schedule - they usually have a portal where you can track it.

I had a similar issue with my apartment number. I used taxr.ai to analyze my tax transcript and noticed my address was incorrect there too. The tool flagged it as a potential issue since the IRS sometimes mails notices instead of using the online portal. It was super helpful seeing everything laid out clearly instead of trying to decipher the transcript myself.

Pro tip: Try calling right when they open at 7am Eastern. I've had much better luck getting through then. Also, for address changes specifically, sometimes the automated system can handle it without needing to talk to a representative.

The IRS is actually on a better pace this year compared to last year in terms of total returns processed, but February filers seem to be experiencing longer waits compared to January filers. This pattern resembles what happened in 2022, when many February filers waited 8-10 weeks while March filers sometimes received refunds more quickly. The processing queue doesn't always operate strictly first-in-first-out.

The tax processing system is like a highway with multiple lanes - some returns cruise through the express lane while others get routed through construction zones with detours. February filers often hit the traffic jam where the early season efficiency meets the mid-season volume surge. The good news is that almost everyone reaches their destination eventually, even if some cars arrive later than expected.